First Date Spots in Berkeley

Linger over reworked classics at Bar Panisse, the bar attached to Chez Panisse in North Berkeley. A soft golden glow and a cozy, lived-in room invite you to stay awhile.

Try the gimlet with Meyer lemon cordial, or pick from the non-alcoholic options. Bar Panisse is open every day from 5pm to 10pm and takes walk-ins only.

Sip your way from sweet nigori to bold junmai at Takara Sake, a tasting room with a sake museum on site. The museum gives you something to talk about, from how brewing methods changed over the centuries to the striking space itself. It makes a laid-back first date.

Tastings are $20 per person and require a reservation.

Head up Sather Tower, known as the Campanile, for a look over the UC Berkeley campus. The tower is 307 feet tall, and the trip to the observation platform takes an elevator and 38 stairs. Carillon concerts are held daily.

Tickets for adults are $6, paid by card or Apple Pay. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm, Saturday from 10am to 5:30pm, and Sunday from 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 5:30pm. The tower can close with little notice.

Warm up by the firepits on the heated patio at Jupiter, a downtown beer spot with string lights overhead and an upstairs dining room. House-brewed beer and wood-fired pizza are on the menu, and the website names date nights among its uses.

Reserve up to two weeks ahead, or the same day until service starts. Jupiter is open from 11:30am to 10pm Sunday through Thursday and until 11pm Friday and Saturday.

Play a board game over coffee, beer or pizza at Victory Point Cafe in North Berkeley. The cafe has a vast board game collection, and staff can walk you through the rules of any game you pick.

Outdoor seating and no fluorescent lighting set a relaxed scene. Reserve your table and game in advance. The play fee is $8 per person. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 11pm, Saturday from 10am to 11pm, and Sunday from 10am to 10pm.

Watch the sun go down over the bay from the outdoor deck at Berkeley Boathouse, a waterfront restaurant at the DoubleTree by Hilton Berkeley Marina. Local craft beer, wine and cocktails come with views of the waterfront and the San Francisco skyline.

The menu is California coastal cuisine, with a shared charcuterie board, flatbread, entrees and seafood. The restaurant offered a special Valentine's dinner menu.

Wander the terraced levels of the Berkeley Rose Garden, home to about 1,500 rose bushes. Find a seat in the shade of the redwood pergola, near Codornices Creek and an ornamental pool, with the Golden Gate Bridge in view.

Visit in mid-May for the roses at their best. Codornices Park is across the street, reached through a tunnel, and its 40-foot concrete slide is there for the taking. The garden is free and open daily from 6am to 10pm.

Browse books from an armchair with a glass of wine at Book Society, a bookstore and wine lounge in Elmwood. Self-pour wine in small tastes, glasses or full bottles, with zero-ABV options on the short list.

The shop hosts monthly literary events and closes for author talks that are scheduled in advance, which it often announces on social media.

Roses on Adeline is a relaxed neighborhood cocktail bar in the Lorin District, away from the downtown buzz. We'd start with the citrus-forward Bees of Berkeley, made with local honey, or the Seasonal Smash, which pairs rum with tangerine, coconut and a makrut lime leaf.

Walk-ins are gladly accepted. Hours are Monday through Wednesday and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm, Thursday from 4pm to 11pm, and Friday and Saturday from 4pm to midnight.

Spend an afternoon among more than 10,000 kinds of plants across 34-plus acres at UC Botanical Garden. Pack a picnic or take an afternoon walk to see the seasonal blooms. Plan on about two hours for a first visit.

Docent tours run on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 and take about an hour. The garden is closed Tuesdays and open from 10am to 5pm otherwise, with last entry at 4:30pm. Adult admission is $18, and reservations are recommended.